Proper seating

Appropriate seating and proper seat belt use are essential for the safety and comfort of everyone in the vehicle. There are also specific recommendations for pregnancy and child seating.

 Important

Importance of proper seating

Safety features, such as seat belts and airbags, require that all occupants are properly seated for the best chance of effective protection in a collision. Failure to follow the seating instructions can endanger life or lead to serious injury.

Pregnancy

Take extra care to follow all seating recommendations if the occupant is pregnant. The following are either additions or of extra importance:

  • Make sure that the seat belt does not cross the abdomen. The hip strap should be under it, and the shoulder section should pass above it.
  • In the driver's seat, avoid sitting closer to the steering wheel than necessary. Adjust the seat to create as much distance as possible between your abdomen and the steering wheel while still keeping all driver controls comfortably within reach.

Child seating needs

Always seat children with extra care and attention to their needs. Make sure you have the required child restraint, that it's installed correctly, and that the child remains safely seated throughout the entire trip. For children traveling facing forward, the same seating recommendations apply as for adults. Always make sure the seat belt is properly adjusted and that the headrest is at a height suitable for the child when possible.

 Note

Physical limitations

Physical limitations can prevent an occupant from following the seating recommendations. The vehicle may need modifications to accommodate safe use. Contact an authorized Volvo workshop for information about Volvo-approved modifications.

Sitting posture

Both sitting posture and proper seat belt adjustment are important for safety. Avoid irregular sitting postures.

Correct sitting posture
A correctly seated occupant. Do not adopt other postures when the vehicle is moving.
Incorrect sitting posture
Do not slide forward in the seat. The lower back should have contact with the backrest.
Incorrect sitting posture
Keep both feet planted on the floor.
Incorrect sitting posture
Do not fold the backrest to a lying position. The seat belt must remain tensioned against the shoulder.

Proper headrest use

Proper headrest use is essential to reduce the risk of neck injuries in a collision. All of the car's headrests are designed to help protect the head and neck when used correctly.
  • Keep the back of your head against the headrest.
  • Make sure occupants have correctly adjusted headrests when possible.